UNICA: Ethanol sales up in early December, sugarcane processing slows

Posted on January 3, 2025

In early December, Brazilian mills processed 8.83 million metric tons of sugarcane, a 54.3% decline compared to last year. Total processing for the 2024 season reached 639.28 million tons, down 4.29%. Ethanol production also fell, with hydrous ethanol down 28.18% and anhydrous ethanol down 24.3%. However, corn ethanol production surged by 34.89%. Ethanol sales increased by 4.15%, with domestic sales up for anhydrous ethanol but down for hydrous ethanol. Total ethanol sales for the season rose by 12.03%.

UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, has released data showing sugarcane processing and ethanol production were down in early December. Ethanol sales were up during the two-week period.

Mills in the south-central region of Brazil processed 8.83 million metric tons of sugarcane during the first half of December, down 54.3% when compared to the same period of the previous year. Total sugarcane processing since the beginning of the current harvest period, which began April 1, 2024, reached 639.28 million metric tons, down 4.29% when compared to the same period of the previous harvest season.

Mills in the region produced 764.53 million liters (201.97 million liters) of ethanol during the first half of December. Production included 498.56 million liters of hydrous ethanol, down 28.18%, and 265.97 million liters of anhydrous ethanol, down 24.3%. Corn ethanol accounted for 379.16 million liters, or 50% of total production during the two-week period, up 34.89% when compared to the same period of the previous year.

Total ethanol production since the beginning of the current harvest season reached 31.93 billion liters, up 3.26%. Production included 20.34 billion liters of hydrous ethanol, up 10.29%, and 11.59 billion liters of anhydrous ethanol, down 7.13%. Corn ethanol accounted for 5.63 billion liters of production, up 30.01%.

Mills in the region sold 1.38 billion liters of ethanol during the first half of December, up 4.15% when compared to the same period of the previous year. Domestic sales included 854.4 million liters, down 8%, and 598.22 million liters of anhydrous ethanol, up 4.91%.

T sales since the beginning of the current harvest season reached 25.22 billion liters, up 12.03%. sales included 16.3 billion liters of hydrous ethanol, up 21.77%, and 8.92 billion liters of anhydrous ethanol, down 2.27%.

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